It had been three days since Al had left to Azalea. I couldn’t help but worry about him. ‘He still didn’t write to me.’ I thought.

“Lady Jerinah, is everything all right?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah.”

Juliette came home sometime back and I spaced out while she was talking.

“You don’t seem well. Do you feel sick?” she asked.

“No, no, I’m fine. I’m sorry for spacing out like that.”

“Is it because of Lord Al’s assignment to the outskirts of Azalea?” she asked. “Are you worried?”

She got it correct. I nodded as a reply. She tried to comfort me and said that even if Al's skill in swordsmanship was at a very high level even at a younger age and that even the greatest generals highly respected him, not only because he was the son of the Duke.

‘The Al of this world was quite a feat.’ I thought.

“Lord Al and Lady Jerinah are unexpectedly quite close, aren’t you? I mean you met each other for the first time on my birthday but then at one point, you seemed to have gotten close. Also, there was that time in your garden party too.” She said. “I may be wrong but are you guys having a secret affair?”

“What? No!” I cried out. “There’s nothing going on between us, absolutely nothing! We just had the same interests and stuffs.”

“Ok, ok. Calm down Lady Jerinah.” She said as she held my hand.

I let out a sigh. I didn’t expect Juliette to ask that question. But it is true that anyone would suspect something since we got real close just after the party at the palace.

“So how are you and Lord Keilan doing, any progress?” I changed the topic from me to her.

She started twiddling with her fingers and said that she told her parents about them.

“You told the King and the Queen?!” I was surprised. I never thought she’d tell them this early.

“Y-yes. At first, they were both reluctant about it, but mother said that if I felt that it was right, she would support me with everything she could. The problem is with father. He said that Lord Keilan was old enough to be my uncle and that he did not allow it, though mother said he wasn’t being serious about what he said.” Juliette looked at me teary eyed. “Lady Jerinah, what should I do?”

‘Ah, the problem with dads, I remembered the similar situation I was in just days back. But the King also was kind of rude on saying that Mr. Keilan was that old. He’s just 28!

I shifted my place and sat next to Juliette and held her hand. I still didn’t feel so comfortable giving relationship advices, especially when Mr. Keilan was included but there was nothing I could do apart from supporting them.

“I’m sure the Queen is right about the King. Dads can be a big problem when it comes to their only daughter, they can be quite protective. And I’m sure the King only wanted the best for you, so don’t worry all right?”

“Lady Jerinah!” She put her arms around me into an embrace.

She settled down after a few minutes and suggested that I should visit the royal palace. I wasn’t sure if my parents would allow me but I accepted her invitation. With high hopes that I’d visit her soon, Juliette left the Celeste Mansion.

I went to mother’s office and found her working with some paper work. I asked if I could go to the royal palace as Juliette had invited me. To my surprise, she agreed and that she had some papers to be sent to the palace the next day. She suggested that I take them as I pay my visit.

The following day, I was already on my way to the palace along with Zed. I asked him to sit with me in the carriage but he declined.

“Are we there yet?” I asked him through the window.

“We’re almost there, my Lady.”

In a few minutes, we entered the palace gates. I haven’t been here since the celebrations for Juliette’s birthday. I got down from the carriage with the help of Zed and the maid led us to the visitor’s room.

“Lady Jerinah! I didn’t expect you to visit me this soon.” Juliette entered the room. “Welcome to the Nar Palace.”

“The Nar Palace?” I repeated.

“The Royal Palace is also known as the Nar Palace, my Lady.” Zed whispered.

“Oh.” I said. “Thank you for having us, Princess.” I made a curtsy and Zed bowed at Juliette.

I handed the papers to Juliette that mother had sent.

As we sat down to talk, there was a noise from the hallway outside the room.

“Lady Jerinah is at the palace?!”

As the door opened, Zed quickly stood in front of me. The person who came in was none other than the Crown Prince, Kai.

‘Ugh.’ I said to myself. I didn’t hate Kai but I didn’t like the way he acted.

“Lady Jerinah, what a pleasant surprise.” He held my hand and kissed on its back. “Did you come here to visit me? My, what a beautiful pendant, I bet it’s because Lady Jerinah’s the one wearing it that makes it look even more beautiful!”

"Why thank you, Your Highness."

'Such flattery.' I thought as I said that.

“She came to visit me, brother. Now would you leave already? I have stuffs to talk with Lady Jerinah.” Juliette said as she stood beside me. “That includes you too, Sir Zed.”

Saying that, Juliette pushed them both out of the room and locked the door shut.

‘I’m sorry Zed, I don’t know what the Princess wants either.’ I said in a muted tone.

• • •

Outside on the hallway.

“That Juliette, she visits Lady Jerinah almost every week in fact, she met her just yesterday and now, she locks me out of the room with a knight.” Kai complained. “Don’t you feel bad, Mr. Knight?”

“I am Zed, Your Highness and I believe it was for Lady Jerinah’s best interest.”

Kai looked at Zed, and then placed his ear on the door.

“May I ask what you are trying to do, Your Highness?”

“Shh, I’m trying to listen to their conversation!” Kai said as he tried to concentrate. “I can hear them but not so clearly.”

~Inside the room~

“… I noticed it earlier too but I forgot to tell you. That pendant is really pretty, Lady Jerinah, where did you get it?”

“… Ah, this, I got is as a gift from..”

“Kai, what on earth are you doing?”

It was the King. Zed bowed to him as greeting.

“Father, I was just-”

“Why do you behave in such a way? You are the crown prince, remember.” The King cut him off and walked in front of the room; he knocked on the door and opened it.

• • •

After Kai and Zed were out of the room, Juliette sighed. "That brother of mine."

"I hope you are comfortable now, Lady Jerinah." She smiled.

She knew I wasn't comfortable with Kai inside the room but that led to Zed being pushed out of the room too. "Yes I am. Thank you for your concern, Princess Juliette."

She then asked me about the necklace I was wearing. She saw me wearing it the other day and was curious to know where I bought it from as she found it to be really pretty. As I was telling her how I got it while we were at Azalea, there was a noise from the hallway again then, a knock followed.

I expected it to be Kai again, but it was the King himself this time.

“Good afternoon, Your Majesty.” I quickly made a curtsy before him.

“Father, what brings you here?” Juliette asked.

“I heard that Lady Jerinah had come over to the palace, so I thought I’d welcome her.” He said then turned to me.

“Welcome to the Nar Palace, Lady Jerinah. Also I’d like to give my gratitude to your father as well as to you for attending the meeting at Azalea in my place.”

“You sent Duke Roscoe to the meeting? You didn’t say anything about that to me.” Kai suddenly spoke from behind.

“I did what I deemed was appropriate, there’s nothing to argue about that. I’ll take my leave now. I hope you enjoy your stay here, Lady Jerinah. Kai, come with me.” He said as he walked out of the room.

“Hah! You expect me to follow your orders?” Kai replied “Also I need to find out who gave the neck- ”

The King glared back at Kai who didn’t say another word and followed him.

“I’m sorry you had to see all that, Lady Jerinah” Juliette said as she sighed. “Brother’s behavior is not at all like that of a Crown Prince.” She then turned to Zed. “I hope he didn’t trouble you, Sir Zed.”

“Not at all, Your Highness.” Zed replied." Thank you for your concern."

Juliette suggested we go out and take a stroll on the garden. This time, Zed was allowed to come with us too.

The palace garden was huge. The bushes were well trimmed into what sort of looked like a maze. Juliette took my hand and led me through the maze to a lake.

‘How large is the land?’ I thought.

“I always come here when I wanted to be free from the people in the palace.” Juliette said.

The place was serene; flowers bloomed on all the sides of the lake. If there was such a place back at the Celeste Mansion, I’d also spent my entire time here.

“So are you going to the festival this year?” She asked.

“Festival?” I never heard anyone speak of any festival. I turned to Zed.

“It’s an annual event held on the last day of the year.” He said.

“That’s right, and it's the only event which is not only for the nobles but is open to all the commoners too. In fact it’s held at the centre of the town of Gardenia.” Juliette continued.

“Did I ever attend it in the past?” I asked Zed.

“Due to your poor health, Lady Jerinah had never gone to any sort of events” he said.

“So I can go this year, can’t I?” I said to which Zed didn’t reply.

“You must, Lady Jerinah! I’ll take you around.” Juliette said as she squeezed my hands.

There was still a month left for the festival. I wondered if Al would be able to attend it too. I suddenly realized the conversation we had before he left to Azalea. ‘What was he doing right now? What if something had happened to him?’ I shook my head and put the negative thoughts away. ‘No, nothing’s going to happen to him. I’m sure of it.’

• • •

“Watch out for the traps laid around.”

It had been two days now, as the Elios Knights led by General Oyir and Al went further to the outskirts of Azalea. They had captured a number of the outlaws as well as killed a number of them though there were casualties the knights had to face too.

‘I haven’t got a chance to write to Jerinah yet. I hope she is all right.’

At that moment, an arrow came straight behind Al.

“Ack!”

“Lord Al!” Oyir cried out.

“I’m all right.” Al said as blood flowed from the wound on his arm made by the arrow.

“But you’re bleeding!”

They made a base some distance away and treated Al as well as the other wounded knights.

“Is your arm all right?” he asked.

“Yes, I can still go on. Ranged attacks while using the dense forest, these brutes can’t be taken lightly.” Al said. "What's our condition?"

“The knights are not badly injured and we’ve come a long way into the area. I bet the enemies have a strategy to stop us by now. Using the dense forest for surprise attacks is a big problem though. Also, we must be getting closer to their main base.” Oyir said.

Al looked out of the tent he was in. It was already dark outside.

“We’ll start moving tomorrow at the break of dawn."

• • •